Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has agreed not to fine Ukraine for buying less natural gas than stipulated in the January 2009 contracts between Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom. Putin, speaking in Poland after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko on September 1, agreed that Ukraine would only pay for as much gas as it consumed.The contracts contain a “take-or-pay” clause that obliges Ukraine to pay for at least 41 billion cubic metres of gas in 2009. Tymoshenko, however, says Ukraine would like to buy no more than 25-27 bcm this year. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko reportedly suspects that Putin “forgave” Tymoshenko because Moscow ... [ Read more ]